Officials: Safety top priority on snow days

Mark Moran / The Citizens' Voice
Some snow rests on branches across the street from Coughlin High School, where classes were canceled Tuesday.

WILKES-BARRE - As a student years ago, Swoyersville resident Karen Schreiber recalls walking through "deep snow" to get to school.

But in the Wyoming Valley these days, it seems as if students aren't likely to ride even over a coating of slush to get their educations.

School was canceled across much of the region on Monday and Tuesday, although snowfall was light and roads were mostly ice-free.

"I just think it's ridiculous," Schreiber said. "They close before they even know what the weather's going to be like. Look at what we got: Not hardly nothing."

It's not just average citizens who are noticing a trend. Timothy Eller, a spokesman for the state Department of Education, said that it seems districts across the state are erring on the side of closing school when the possibility of snow enters the forecast.

"I think schools are more cautious and are taking more precautions," Eller said. "You have the overall safety issue, but also for families planning for childcare needs."

Top priority: Safety

Many residents recall attending school with snow falling, or at least a time when administrators waited for snow to hit the ground before calling off class.

"Nowadays I think they just hit the panic alarm a little too soon," said Jim Gwynn, a 38-year-old Plymouth resident.

Local superintendents say they consider a number of factors when deciding to close school. But, they say, safety of the students and staff is at the forefront.

"You make a poor decision in regard to weather and you have an accident, you don't get that choice back," Wyoming Valley West School District Superintendent Chuck Suppon said. "A child seriously hurt, that's something that can weigh on your mind the rest of your life."

Many area superintendents say they start their days as early as 4 a.m. when snow is expected. They keep their ears on the weather as they try to project what might happen and the implications for getting students to and from school.

Wilkes-Barre Area School District Superintendent Bernard Prevuznak said he has to decide about delaying school before 5:30 a.m. because of bus operations. With students from Bear Creek in the district, he can't only consider Wilkes-Barre road conditions, he said.

He checks the weather, talks to other superintendents and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials, and even has a transportation director who personally goes out to check road conditions.

On Monday, for example, the transportation director reported roads in Bear Creek were passable, but then Prevuznak began doing "figure eights" on icy roads as he drove through Laflin, he said.

"We're trying to make a decision based on the best information that we have available to us," Prevuznak said. "I'd rather be safe than sorry, and I do not and will not ever jeopardize a child in regard to bad roads."

Communication between the superintendents is important because teachers often live in other districts, and some students attend schools outside of their districts, such as the Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center or special needs schools, Hanover Area School District Superintendent Andrew Kuhl said.

"When those districts close down, those kids can't go to those schools," Kuhl said.

Suppon noted that Wyoming Valley West doesn't only deal with children along Route 11, but those living up Larksville Mountain. While main thoroughfares are often clear, most of the district's bus stops are on side roads that are often untreated, Suppon said. He said he also has to consider the high school juniors and seniors with little driving experience who will be out on the roads, he said.

"If I'm going to err, I'm going to err on the side of safety, because this day is going to be made up regardless," Suppon said.

Fear of litigation?

Many area residents say they believe the reason for the pre-emptive closures is today's litigious society. But educators say it isn't as much to do with threat of a lawsuit as it is simply about protecting students.

"There's less concern about liability, more concern about safety," Kuhl said. "We have an awful lot of kids who are getting off to school by themselves in the morning."

Making the call can be difficult, and it's always easy to second-guess, the superintendents say. Last week, a Hanover Area parent was upset school hadn't closed after getting into an accident while bringing a student to school, Kuhl said.

"You're never going to be in a situation where you're hitting it right on the head," Kuhl said.

Crestwood School District Superintendent Dave McLaughlin-Smith said, in hindsight, he thinks the district should have started on time Tuesday and had an early dismissal instead of closing for the day.

But, he noted, the decision had to be made with the information in hand, knowing that not everyone will be happy.

"I am fully aware when a decision is made for a delay hundreds of working parents are affected," McLaughlin-Smith said. "When the decision is made to have an early dismissal the same parents may be affected. Keeping all of these issues in mind does not make the final decision easy."

Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Stella of the 109th Field Artillery, who was with his family Tuesday afternoon at the Wyoming Valley Mall, said his wife had to change some plans because of having their kids home two days in a row.

The decision to close Pittston Area schools Tuesday seemed "a little premature," but they were making the most of it, using the opportunity for the kids to meet Santa, he said.

"You try and make the best of the situation," Stella said. "It's not a bad situation, having your kids home, but you try and work around the schedule."

jhalpin@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2058, @cvjimhalpin

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